Tang Li’s gaze lingered on the Barbie doll.
The doll was about 20 centimeters tall, with a trendy side-swept bangs, and long sea-blue-grey hair, soft as seaweed, draped over her shoulders and back, delicate features, especially lifelike around the eyes and eyebrows, long curled eyelashes, and amber-colored pupils. It was a kind of Barbie that any girl would hardly resist.
In the bedroom, soft fabric, elegant table lamps, and crystal chandeliers everywhere conveyed a warm feeling, featuring a bathroom with a natural fresh style, and a prominent large bathtub on the open-air balcony, beside which there was a bamboo woven storage box holding shower gel, towels, and aromatherapy.
The second floor of the villa, besides the study and bedrooms, also had a dressing room.
The sliding door of the dressing room was open.
Tang Li saw inside, it was filled with various women’s clothes, size-matched to the Barbie doll, with a row of shoes displayed beside it, and the wardrobe drawers half-open, showing hats, hair clips, or hair ties, all undeniably similar to a little girl’s room in reality.
Outside the front door of the villa, there was a pink convertible parked.
A dark little dog was lying on the lawn.
Tang Li squatted in front of the dust cover, her eyes unable to leave this realistic villa for a long time.
In her childhood, she had never received such a dreamlike gift.
Before Tang Yin was infected with HIV, they lived in a small town in Diannan, and one year on her birthday, Tang Yin bought her a Barbie doll.
Later, after Tang Yin was dismissed by the hospital, they moved to a remote place, where she often cut fabrics from old clothes to sew dresses for the doll. Seeing her enjoy such play, Tang Yin would also join her in crafting whenever she had spare time.
Returning to Lai Family, the first time she passed by Lai Yuaner’s room and saw the interior decoration, she couldn’t deny the envy that arose in her heart.
The European-style Princess bed had several plush toys on the bedhead, and the bay window cushioned with wool had various fabric dolls tossed about, including a giraffe, a rabbit with green ears, as well as a Dalmatian, an owl, and a little pony...
Ouyang Qian had arranged for her a room facing north, which seldom saw sunlight and seemed eternally grey and oppressive; going back to her own room from Lai Yuaner’s felt like transitioning from summer directly into harsh winter.
Tang Li always felt that her childhood had its deficiencies.
By the Mihesha River, she could play barefoot with other kids everywhere but never sat on a couch with a comb like a little princess, grooming a Barbie doll’s hair.
Perhaps, every girl harbors a dream of being a princess.
Now, looking at this gift, Tang Li felt as though the missing piece in the depths of her soul had flown back, filling her heart with satisfaction and warmth.
Plugging in the power, the entire villa shone brilliantly under the dazzling lights.
On the coast of Valencia, it was soft and serenely beautiful.
At the top of the dust cover, an envelope was tucked under a fine rope, Tang Li picked it up, pulling a greeting card from the envelope.
It was a New Year’s greeting card.
Tang Li opened it, and inside was a line of strong block characters.
[Toys surrender one’s purpose if trivial; but for the ambitious, playing nurtures purpose.]
The man’s handwriting in pen revealed sharpness everywhere, as if he had deliberately used block script for her, but between the strokes, a bit of carelessness appeared.
Tang Li held the greeting card with both hands, a faint smile emerging on her lips.
She couldn’t help but wonder if he thought she was too mature too soon, thus sent such a gift full of childishness?
— Perhaps he was worried she wouldn’t let herself go to play, hence adding such a phrase.